Waiting on the Postman

 At times when one is champing at the bit to paint more Willie Franco-Prussian War figures and the postman is seemingly dilatory... it helps to have a deep, deep lead pile.

Stadden, of course. When only the best will do.

I - ah - believe it may be time to tidy up the painting desk again.

Willie Franco-Prussian War

 Not too long back, I was gifted by the very kind and generous GW a pile of Willie Franco-Prussian War figures that had come to him from Larry Brom.

This is a period I don't know a lot about, but do rather enjoy the uniforms of. That's more than enough excuse, correct? Free figures, pretty uniforms and a War with a reputation for dash and occasional atrocity.

So, off I went and plunged in with a vague idea of building a small collection that might work with Featherstone's rules as laid out in "Tackle war Games This Way". 12 figure infantry units, six figure cavalry units, a gun is a battery and so forth. Stuart Asquith wrote up a version which float about online. 

I thought it best to start with the Zouaves. Get them out of the way and everything else seems easy by comparison!

The flag is by Warflag, representing the First Regiment of Zouaves, First, Division, First Corps, Army of the Rhine under Marshal MacMahon. I agonised somewhat over the basing, thinking I might even Plinth the stands on nicely polished quarter inch timber. Then sanity prevailed and I went for Renedra treated with Acrylic oils to simulate timber grain, sealed with varnish then garnished with figures, terrain paste and a variety of tufts and static grass.

Prussian Uhlans awaiting their treatment. What gets me about the older production Willie figures was how they would arrive in the post (presumably) with their weapons soldered into their hands. Oh, how I sigh for times past. 2nd Pomeranian Uhlan Regiment Nr 9 if you want their full title!

...and based on my lunch-break.

Shiny or Not

 What a conundrum.

I know that group memory has it that all toy soldiers painted in the 1960s and 1970s were all preserved in an amber of thick yacht varnish. But... were they? Or at least, were they all?

I have been looking at my various picture books about old toy soldiers, and it seems very apparent to me that that shiny was not always the norm at all. It may well have been for certain very famous painters like Messers Gilder and Mason, but I think this was not the norm, yet looking at the visual record I see a lot of matt enamel paint. I'll follow up with some images over the next day or so.

I have a small project going on whereby I need to justify some of my decisions to myself.... Entirely self serving of course.

What to do with the ECW

What to do indeed!

Here's what I am thinking in terms of the general situation.

A small troop of Royalists under that rollicking old pirate, Sir Marmaduke Young control good old Pook Manor - erstwhile property of Sir Maxtible Grant, MP. They have thrown up some rudimentary earthworks and installed a cannon or two. Their forces are no more than a Company of Dragoons with Firelocks, a company of infantry with muskets and a good troop of Horse.

Their modus operandi is to use their musketeers for base security whilst the cavalry and dragoons go on the rampage in the local countryside. You know, beating up Parliamentary convoys, raiding local villages if they are not co-operating. Generally being a nuisance to the local Parliamentary Commander.

So then, Sir Maxtible is decidedly unhappy. Being as he is the leading man in the district for the Parliamentary cause, and concerned for the state of his wainscotting, he has determined that Sir Marmaduke needs to pack his bags and skedaddle.

He has roughly twice the force of Sir Marmaduke, viz: His Own troop of shewe in the form of some of Cuirassiers, two troops of grim-visaged Ironsides and four companies from a London Trained Band; two with pikes and two with muskets. He has two light and two heavy guns. More than enough force to grind out a pesky nest of Royalists, correct? His only complication is that every week he must safely convoy through the area supplies for the nearest Parliamentary city that is being beseiged by the King.

This feels rather like a small campaign.

The Royalist goal is to be a pest as long as is possible. The Parliamentarians must smoke out the vipers infesting Pook Manor whilst at the same time making sure that 'x' number of convoys make it through the district/parish/shire. A points system comes to mind. The Parliamentarians start with 20 points and lose one for every convoy lost or village raided. They lose if the total dips below 10. Something like that.

Thoughts and comments? How does the force balance feel? A troop of horse might be as many as a dozen figures, a company of foot 18. It would be nice to do this with less than a hundred figures. Hm, perhaps something like 140.

UPDATE: Rob left a comment that for some bizarre reason, Blogger won't publish:

"Sounds fun but I think these cavalier types need another unit to balance it out. Currently the parliamentarian foot and artillery look up to taking Pook Manor as it stands. If the horse and dragoons go out raiding the solitary foot company will probably just be overwhelmed. At the same time the three troops of parliamentary horse should be more than enough to escort a convoy.

Perhaps if Sir Maxtible also had a base to protect it might see him more stretched."

And I think Rob is right, so I may add another company of infantry to the garrison of Pook Manor. And Sir Maxtible I feel will be enjoying free quarter in a local village as he plans to smoke the vile Royalists out. What a good way for the Royalists to remove points from the Parliamentarian pile. I was also thinking that every convoy the Parliamentarians get through, they ought to be able to add a few more points to their own store.

 

Prince Rupert of the Rhine. And Friends.

For no good reason I have spent the past few days renovating some old Willie favourites; their ECW range

 I think my love for these figures comes out of reading Ian Weekley terrain modelling articles in Military modelling in the 1980s. There were areticles on making ECW fortifications and Manor houses, and the scenes were liberally dressed with Willie figures. Now, my old Airfix/Dapol houses are not quite at that same standard, nonetheless, they set the scene nicely, especially the thatched cottage.

More over the next few days as I put out a few more.

Chapteris Coddus Latinum

 

For various reasons, I have been painting a few random Marines over the past few weeks interspersed with other bits and bobs. Here a terrifying Black Templar in all his neo-medieval clobber.

And here a self-lacerating Imperial Fist. In a puddle of blue goo. Doubtless the remains of some Chaos horror.

And lastly, Chapteris Imperialis Hello Kitty. Raowr, purge the heretic!

Taking to the Cruel Sea

 I am a relative tyro when it comes to on water matters, but I do know what I like and the Warlord Games "Cruel Seas" has always has quite a strong appeal. I finally pulled out the S-Boats that came taped to the cover of Miniature wargamer in 2019 out and painted them up over the weekend. They are really very pretty models and paint quite easily with some blocking in, washes and some very light dry-brushing to sharpen up the hard edges.

The model above is one of the S-100 class with the armoured bridge that appeared from from 1943. Armament was officially 1 × 20 mm in the bow, 2 × 20 mm gun amidships and 37 mm gun aft. Mine seems to have gotten a sneaky Flakvierling in place of the aft 37mm...

This is one of the S-38 Class. I am of the impression that armament was quite various and included such treats as 40 mm Bofors or 20 mm Flak aft, MG34 Zwillingsockel (twin-mount) midships. I think mine looks like it might have a 20mm or 37mm aft. Quite tempted to leave all the weapons free in their mounting points so they cam be swapped around. Warlord to a nice range of additional weapons and crewmen that might serve to dress the boats up quite nicely.

And here they are together. As to the apparent size difference, the camera and perspective are telling you lies. They are both the same length.

I have a pair of Vospers that will hit the construction and paint desk soon!

Mr Stadden at Waterloo

 Inspired by yesterdays' Minot-fondling I rose early (Was it only 05.30? Surely not!) I combed through my small collection of vintage 30mm Napoleonic miniatures. I was seeking inspiration. I found it in the form, of a Stadden British company officer - still available from Tradition. he was in a bit of a state. Originally painted in enamels, his white trousers were patchy and scarred and his jacket was much chipped. His sword was bent and one corner of his base was turned over upon itself.

Tsk! This would ever do! I cannot think of a single officer of the British Army who would permit himself to meet the enemy in such a state! So, out with the red (albeit with a dab of brown to dull it down), the grey for new trousers, a dab of bright gold here and there and a lovely bright silver for his carefully straightened sword blade.

Ready for anything the French can throw his way.

He is now able to meet the French upon terms that would not be an embarrassment.

Barry Minot

 Some of my favourite miniatures are the Naploeonic range made by Barry Minot in the 1970s.

There were British and French for Waterloo. I know of infantry for both, and Cuirassiers for the French, The Cuirassiers came in the form of an Officer, bugler and a couple of troopers - at least. that's what I have of them.

I thought I would put up some pictures of the few British Infantry I have. They are beautiful figures, slim and well proportioned and a delight to behold

Where should one start but with the veritable "BN1" of the range. A member of one of the 'Centre' companies, he marches with a determined air, "Belgian" shako set square on his head.

Note if you will, the neatness of the paintjob. I wish I could paint as well as this.

Our next entrant I shall call "BN2" - centre company, standing, firing. Again, look at the fanatic neatness of those tapes on his jacket. Marvellously precise paint-work.

BN3. British Drummer, Belgic Shako. Or not, it does not matter. Another lovely figure. The painting may or may not be accurate; I am not enough of a button-counter to try or even be qualified to critique another hobbyists work. Again, though this is a lovely, clean piece of painting.

Maybe BN 4, maybe not, Nonetheless, I shall name this composition so. What a wonderful piece this is. Charming animation to this single-piece casting.

All the fab four (five?)-some.

The Minot figures scale quite well with the Willie range for height and pleasing looseness of style. They remind me of the Stadden range in terms of their and bulk and fineness of detail.

I give them a 10/10 for my favourite Napoleonic figures and if anyone wants to sell me any, drop me a line at bloggerator@gmail.com.

WIPPY Orc

 Not a Russian lost orc either.

I have been playing about a bit recently with colour and technique in ways I have not really done before. So much of "toy soldier painting' is colour by numbers. Grey coat, red cuffs. The right colours have to go in the right places otherwise the miniature is "not right". And that's fine and there are so many miniature painters whose work I deeply respect who paint historical miniatures (and certain fantasy and SF miniatures) without going outside the lines so to speak.

However, I have been chafing under these restraints for a while and decided it would be nice to paint outside the lines on occasion and play more freely with colour and technique. So, here's a WIP shot of a GW LOTR Orc. He's largely painted over a military green base coat with an overspray from above with a 'cold' off white then given a GW yellow wash. Some rough overpainting of metallic colours and that's where we are now. I might do some edge highlights on the armour to sharpen the definition. Some more washing to grunge it up a bit and I think that might do.

UPDATE: Finished with some poo-brown ground work and some of the sickliets grass tufts in the inventory.

It Was All Yellow

 Coldplay aside, I decided I needed a break from the 18th Century, and after dithering around a little (a 1914 Poilou, a bit of this and a pinch of that) I pulled out my old, old, old Rogue Trader Eldar space Pirates.

I had a go at a Fire Dragon. my first attempt at painting a gradient on a miniature using paints thinned down to glazes. Lots of back and forth and I'm pretty pleased with the result.

Some yellow eldar. I've not painted with inks before, so this has been an interesting learning experience.

More to come as I have about 20 minis I would like to knock off before I get back to the French and Indian War.

Building the Gardes Francaises

 So, here's the thing.

I know I am building a French Army for the French and Indian War. Set in stone. No chance of deviating from that; I have finished building the three line regiments that were my goal, so it's done and dusted. I am actively looking at the British castings that I have and so far there are enough for most of the first unit and parts of a second**. So, it's going to happen.

But... I found my old Willie*** Arquebusiers de Grassin in a box a few weeks ago and counted them back and forth and I seem to have half a units' worth of them. Then a Drummer from the Gardes Francaises mysteriously appeared on my painting table and I was compelled to paint him in the Grand Livery Lace.

So much lace...

Which in a round about way brings me to my topic. If one was to have a middling diversion in the direction of building the Gardes (I am sure the exchequer could spring for a birthday present), how would I do it? The current establishment for my line regiments is in the nature of about 50 figures and each represents a battalion. The Gardes were a brigade-sized unit of six battalions. Now, I may be silly, but even I am not going to spring for 300 figures. So the question is "What to do?".

Currently I am mulling two solutions. The first is just to make a single battalion and leave it at that. And there is merit in that. In the case of bath-tubbing a battle like Fontenoy*, it seems quite reasonable to have a battalion stand in for a brigade on the wargame table.

The other thought that crosses my mind is that my battalions all break down into two Grand Divisions, so, why not simply add a third? The unit has a fair bit more heft, it won't break the bank and it'll look good on the table.

What would you do?

*Fontenoy? Well, I'll have a pile of French infantry and artillery already. Will it kill me to add some cavalry? And I will already also have a number of British infantry units including the 42nd Highlanders out of the FIW project. And, dash it all, I have castings for half the Arequebusiers de Grassin already.

**It will be rebasing time for my RSM British. There are enough already-painted castings to create a full regiment.

***And lets face it, the Willie French and British are based off Fontenoy, Culloden, Carillion and Quebec.

Great War Figures

 Once upon a time I found a UK company called The Honourable Lead Boiler Suit. They had a magnificent range of Great War figures. 28-30mm scale, the anatomy that was just so, the research behind the figures was exemplary.

I bought a few samples (about 15 or so) and admired them greatly before partially painting them and then putting them aside.

I mean, seriously, what's not to love? The bugler? The officer with his coat draped over his shoulders?

Well, the inevitable happened and I decided I wanted more and of course they had gone out of production.

Let this be a lesson to all who read. Strike while the iron is hot!

I suppose the Plan B is Raventhorpe.

I already have this Rapid Fire! battalion I made for a planned Safi game as part of operation Torch which are useable as they are.

And wouldn't these fellows look dapper in Horizon Bleu?

Moo, baa, oink

 Or, the Grimdark Ages.

In between painting various Frenchmen, I have had a few other things potter across my painting desk over the past month or so.

Some dead hard early Saxons by Gripping Beast. I think these minis are a prime bit of early 1990s design. Solid, and a bit chunky. I like them, although they are crude by todays' standards.

In the back row, if you look closely enough there is a Eureka Hiberno-Norse warrior which is a surprisingly nice figure that I painted (like all of these) up from a black undercoat.

In so many of the magazines that treated us with pictures to delight the eye in years gone past, I always was taken by the small side narratives that were possible when there was enough fluff and clutter on the table to allow it. Toy soldiers on their own can be boring*. Painting 200 of BN1, "Advancing at the Slope" can be a dull exercise both visually and as a matter of preparation. So, perhaps I ought to start a small series - on the side -  of "clutter"? 

I have a small number of various farm animals that have collected in various drawer over the past few years. I and am now finally getting around to painting them. They are variously Pegasus and Wargames Atlantic and very good fun to paint. I note on a sprue a couple of cats who our own will be modelling for.

I suppose I shall be on the lookout for suitable civilians next. And trees. One never seems to have enough trees.

*Is this the proverbial wargaming "elephant in the room"?

Grand Parade

Everyone likes a parade and I thought this was a good moment to take a breath and see how my FIW French army is looking. So, and without further ado, the infantry:

Here we have the "Bearn" and "La Sarre" Regiments. I have had various figures of these in my collection for years and they have represented all sorts. They are now settling down into their proper identities, although you mau still note the occasional inconsistency in their uniforms!

Here we can see progress on my version of the "La Reine" Regiment. It's currently at about the 60% mark, however I expect a delivery of figurs in the near future which will allow me to get to the end of the unit in pretty short order. I am choosing the same castings as I used in the "La Sarre" - kneeling at the ready in the front rank and giving fire in the second. Not really according to the drill book, but they do give the impression of a firing line. I will be using Davids' flags.

What's an army without it's brains? Successful? Perhaps? Who can tell! Nonetheless, this is my small collection of staff and hangers on that no 18th Century army should be without.

Le Corps Royale de la Artillerie. Heavy metal indeed.  I probably should supplement their numbers with more gunners in infantry uniforms to do the grunt work. 

I have another 20 or so resin Gabions that I need to paint up.

And finally, the Noble Savages who live in man's natural state, uncorrupted by civilisations' influence and ready to set the frontier ablaze... if it suits their own purposes. Ah, Rousseau.

Les Sauvages aux Bois

 

Willie Iroquois

Masters of the petite guerre, mostly allies of the French in the first half of the war and the terror of new British recruits and settler militia alike the warriors of the First Nations were the masters of light infantry warfare. The French learned a great deal from them of bush warfare over their long and close acquaintance and at times their militia and even their Compagnies Franches de la Marine troops would have been hard to distinguish from them to the inexperienced eye.

The warriors in the image above are the first of my Willie "Indians". While the castings are no longer top notch, the research that underlies them certainly is. This is one of the things I have always admired about Suren's figures and one of the reasons I continue to paint them.

The next four are painted and merely require varnish and basing.

Un feu de joie for the new year

 

The 46th Foot salute the New Year

The latest addition to the French and Indian war collection is the first Grand Division of the 46th Foot. This was a hard-working regiment which saw action in many of the more important actions of the War including the assault on the French lines at the Battle of Carillion, the Siege of Fort Niagara and the repulse of the attempted French relief at the Battle of La Belle Famille as well as the campaign against Montreal in 1760.